Five exercises may ease neck and shoulder pain

Danish scientists have found that office workers who suffer from neck and shoulder pain may benefit from doing five simple strength training exercises.

The study, which is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology, is part of an ongoing research project looking into ways of reducing repetitive strain injury - a common problem for office workers.

In their latest report, scientists from the University of Southern Denmark and the Institute of Sports Medicine, Copenhagen, reveal that five strength exercises with dumbbells can have a substantially beneficial effect on pain.

The exercises are the one-arm row, shoulder abduction, shoulder elevation, reverse fly and upright row.

A total of 42 women took part in the ten-week study, all of whom performed repetitive tasks in an office environment and worked with computers.

The women had reported chronic or frequent pain in the neck area, as well as tenderness of the upper trapezius muscle, which is located on top of the shoulder and may become sore after a long car journey or extended desk work.

Participants took part in strength training, general fitness training or no physical training during the study period.

Strength training was typically found to reduce pain levels by more than 50 per cent, as well as increasing the number of type-II muscle fibres which are required for generating power.

The study authors believe that strength training reduces pain, which in turn enhances the body's ability to activate the trapezius muscle.

They concluded that chronically painful muscles are "highly responsive to rehabilitation with specific strength training".

A spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said the study offered some useful advice for people with work-related neck and shoulder complaints. A combination of painkillers, exercise and ice-packs, physiotherapy and good posture were often used to relieve pain, he added.

© Adfero Ltd

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